Sick Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

[xuxu]

I have a Cockatoo couple, and the male one seems a bit sick for the last two days. He became darker, and he acts strangely. Also I think his stomach grew bigger. He does not harrass noone, altough he seems like in attacking model (all fins are up). I am worried about it. Can you pls help. Female seems fine.
Some info about my tank, it is 180 litres tank, with 14 Cardinal, 4 cories, 4 botia, 2 other cichlid (L Dorsiger) and several platties. I check the water parameters, and all seem to be fine

 

[Tolak]

Has he been eating, and how is the female behaving?

 

[xuxu]

Female is behaving no different than usual. Yesterday he did not eat much, but I give them food twoce a day, tablets in the morning and frozen live food at night (blood shrimps etc)

 

[Tolak]

The swelling could indicate constipation, or a bacterial problem. Although apistos like a more meaty diet, bloodworms do have a tendency to constipate fish. A picture would help in this respect.

I would start with fasting for a couple of days, followed by feeding a shelled green pea or some zucchini. The roughage from vegetables will often help clean out the digestive tract. If this doesn't work, some Epsom salt does wonders for constipation. Try fasting for one day weekly; this does wonders for keeping cichlid's digestion regular.

If none of that works, it is probably a bacterial problem. I'm guessing you are from the UK, as you list your tank in liters. I would try contacting Wilder; she is up on the meds available in the UK, as they are totally different from where I'm at in the US.

 

[xuxu]

Now he is dead I came back home and found him lying on the floor. I took him out. One of his eyes seems to be more black than other. DO you guys think it is bacterial infection?? What shoudl I do?

 

[Tolak]

Probably bacterial, constipation usually doesn't take a fish down that quickly. I would do a water change, followed by another water change tomorrow, as most bacteria causing infection are in the water. Fresh water makes for healthier fish, allowing their immune system to fight off any bacteria they may have been exposed to.

 

[xuxu]

I started reading stuff, can it be hole-in-the-head disease?

 

[Tolak]

HITH doesn't take down a fish that quickly, it was probably an internal bacterial problem.

 

[Griz]

Do you know how old the fish was? If not, how long did you have him and was he adult size when you got him?

Cockatoos don't normally live more than 3 years and an older fish could have been more susceptible to infection.